Sri Lanka pick four specialist spinners for fourth ODI

Sri Lanka will launch an all-out spin assault in the fourth one-day international in Colombo on an Australian team whose focus appears to have shifted towards the upcoming Test series.

Star leggie Wanindu Hasaranga has returned from a groin injury as the hosts selected four specialist spinners to bowl on a used wicket at the R.Premadasa stadium on Tuesday.

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Australia XI: Aaron Finch (c), David Warner, Mitch Marsh, Marnus Labuschagne, Alex Carey (wk), Travis Head, Glenn Maxwell, Cameron Green, Pat Cummins, Matthew Kuhnemann, Josh Hazlewood

Sri Lanka XI: Niroshan Dickwella (wk), Pathum Nissanka, Charith Asalanka, Kusal Mendis, Dhananjaya de Silva, Dasun Shanaka (capt), Chamika Karunaratne, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dunith Wellalage, Jeffrey Vandersay, Maheesh Theekshana

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After his decision to set a target in the third ODI backfired with Sri Lanka pulling off a ground record chase, captain Aaron Finch this time won the toss and elected to bowl on another warm afternoon in the nation’s capital.

Injured duo Steve Smith and Mitchell Starc remain on ice but Pat Cummins is back for Jhye Richardson, with the Test captain returning after being rested for the third ODI.

Sri Lanka clearly expect the pitch, the same one used for their six-wicket win in Sunday’s 50-over clash, to take significant turn.

The Aussies on the other hand have stuck to their guns with Matt Kuhnemann the only specialist tweaker and Mitchell Swepson again left out.

Speedster Dusmantha Chameera is out of the Sri Lankan side with acute left ankle pain, meaning allrounder Chamika Karunaratne, along with part-timer Dasun Shanaka, are the only pace options for the home team.

Chameera was awaiting the results of an MRI scan to determine the severity of the injury.

Despite Sri Lanka holding a 2-1 series lead and being on the verge of clinching the five-game series, with no ODI Super League points on the line Australia’s gaze has shifted towards the Test campaign beginning in just over a week’s time.

Smith has a left quad concern but was expected to train alongside recently arrived Test squad members Nathan Lyon and Usman Khawaja in the stadium’s nets on Tuesday.

Starc has had the stitches removed out of the left index finger he sliced open a fortnight ago and bowled some gentle deliveries without any strapping on the healing digit during Australia’s warm-ups.

Both might have been risked if the stakes were higher but the two Tests in Galle are now clearly front of mind.

Australia are sticking with the long batting order and allrounder-heavy bowling line-up that they used in the third ODI, with Cameron Green once again deployed at No.8.

Qantas Tour of Sri Lanka, 2022

June 7: Australia won first T20 by 10 wickets

June 8: Australia won second T20 by three wickets

June 11: Sri Lanka won third T20 by four wickets

Sri Lanka ODI squad: Dasun Shanaka (c), Pathum Nissanka, Danushka Gunathilaka, Kusal Mendis, Charith Asalanka, Dhananjaya de Silva, Dinesh Chandimal, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Niroshan Dickwella, Wanindu Hasaranga, Chamika Karunaratne, Dushmantha Chameera, Asitha Fernando, Nuwan Thushara, Ramesh Mendis, Maheesh Theekshana, Praveen Jayawickrama, Jeffrey Vandersay, Lahiru Madushanka, Dunith Wellalage, Pramod Madushan

Australia ODI squad: Aaron Finch (c), Ashton Agar, Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Pat Cummins, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Matt Kuhnemann, Marnus Labuschagne, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Jhye Richardson, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Mitchell Swepson, David Warner

June 14: Australia won first ODI by two wickets (DLS)

June 16: Sri Lanka won second ODI by 26 runs (DLS)

June 19: Sri Lanka won third ODI by six wickets

June 21: Fourth ODI, Colombo, 7pm AEST

June 24: Fifth ODI, Colombo, 7pm AEST

Sri Lanka Test squad (provisional): Dimuth Karunaratne (c), Pathum Nissanka, Kamil Mishara, Oshada Fernando, Kusal Mendis, Angelo Mathews, Dhananjaya De Silva, Kamindu Mendis, Niroshan Dickwella, Dinesh Chandimal, Chamika Karunaratne, Ramesh Mendis, Mohamed Shiraz, Shiran Fernando, Dilshan Madushanka, Lahiru Kumara, Kasun Rajitha, Vishwa Fernando, Asitha Fernando, Jeffrey Vandersay, Lakshitha Rasanjana, Praveen Jayawickrama, Lasith Embuldeniya, Suminda Lakshan

Australia Test squad: Pat Cummins (c), Ashton Agar, Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Mitchell Swepson, David Warner

June 29 - July 3: First Test, Galle, 2.30pm AEST

July 8-12: Second Test, Galle, 2.30pm AEST

All Sri Lanka v Australia international fixtures will be screened live on Fox Cricket and Kayo Sports

Australia A fixtures

Australia A squad: Scott Boland, Aaron Hardie, Marcus Harris, Travis Head, Henry Hunt, Josh Inglis, Matthew Kuhnemann, Nic Maddinson, Nathan McAndrew, Todd Murphy, Jimmy Peirson, Josh Philippe, Matt Renshaw, Tanveer Sangha, Mark Steketee

Sri Lanka A one-day squad: Dhananjaya de Silva (c), Niroshan Dickwella, Lahiru Udara, Lasith Croospulle, Oshada Fernando, Pabasara Waduge, Kamindu Mendis, Ashen Bandara, Janitha Liyanage, Sahan Arachchi, Pulina Tharanga, Dunith Wellalage, Dananjaya Lakshan, Shiran Fernando (will not play due to injury), Dilshan Madushanka, Pramod Madushan, Nishan Madushka, Ashen Daniel,Nisala Tharaka

June 8: Australia A won by seven wickets

June 10: Sri Lanka A won by four wickets

June 14-17: Australia A won by 68 runs

June 21-24: four-day match v Sri Lanka A, Hambantota